Mandarin Goby dorsal fin problem...color may be fading too. Help!

[earthboy17]

I just moved from a big tank to a smaller tank, and then I moved that smaller tank to a new location. I moved the tank with a lower water level but the fish in it. (Maybe this wasn't the wisest idea?)

Regardless, I have my new small tank with my fish in it, including my beautiful mandarin goby.

I noticed today that his dorsal fin, which used to be big and tall and billowing, is largely gone. His colors don't seem quite as vibrant right now either.

Could this just be stress? Could he have rock abrasions? Hopefully this isn't something fatal?

What would you recommend as a course of action?


(FWIW, he's a plump little guy that eats pellets and frozen shrimp. His tnakmates include 2 clowns and a fire shrimp. I don't think he's being harrassed.)

 

[limitdown]

Likely stress from the move or a decline in your water quality.
Maybe try waiting it out and see if he improves.
Unless it's ich, velvet, flukes or popeye, I usually don't immediately move fish into a QT. Sometimes the netting and acclimation end up causing more problems.